RAZ: Boats of all sizes blew their horns in celebration traveling past the queen on her own vessel on the River Thames. It's the queen's diamond jubilee, a celebration of her 60th year on the throne.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Three cheers for the queen. Hip, hip...

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: Hooray.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Hip, hip...

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: Hooray.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Hip, hip...

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: Hooray.

RAZ: Thousands of people flocked to London for the highlight of four days of celebration.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELLS RINGING)

RAZ: And church bells welcomed the queen's royal barge as it joined the river pageant of over 1,000 boats. The grand finale was a performance of the national anthem by the London Philharmonic on a boat right under the Tower Bridge.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN")

RAZ: A flotilla of 1,000 boats on the Thames hadn't been seen in London since 1662 when one was held in honor of Charles II. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.